Have you ever ever fancied a studio-grade, linked speaker product of customized concrete? If that’s the case, Grasp & Dynamic has you coated: its MA770 nearfield soundstage speaker is encased in concrete, weighs 35 kilos, and comes with an equally hefty price of $1,800. Now, earlier than you attain for a jackhammer, ask your self what you’d get to your cash and heavy lifting. Firstly, you’d get the luxurious of various connection choices, together with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Four.1, and Chromecast, plus aux and optical ports for all of your legacy .

Each MA770 is technically a stereo expertise enclosed in a single field, however it may be paired with one other MA770, so you may stream your stereo in stereo. (Speak having a few full soundstage!)

The MA770’s connectivity chops don’t cease there. For those who’d like to make use of Google Assistant, you may even allow it by way of the Google Dwelling app and let your voice deal with the music playback. You’ll discover playback controls and monitor data throughout the app as effectively.

Earlier than you ask: there’s no AirPlay. Based on M&D, its omission was a design determination, but it surely was additionally partly because of restrictions set by Apple.

In addition to being product of a composite concrete (designed in home), the MA770 is the primary speaker NYC-based Grasp & Dynamic has ever produced. M&D has been manufacturing and promoting private audio since 2014 — to constructive acclaim from critics — however that is its first try at making a speaker.

In addition to the clear sound with wholesome quantities of supplementary bass, what would M&D have to supply that might be real and unique? Being one of many first Google Chromecast-enabled, third-party audio system is an efficient place to start out — however, it’s not sufficient.

Honestly, design is what differentiates the MA770 from most different high-end / luxurious audio system. It was designed by Sir David Adjaye, a famend architect and designer of the Nationwide Museum of African American Historical past and Tradition in Washington, DC. Internally at M&D, the creation of the MA770 was handled as a ardour venture because of the selection of supplies, however regardless Sir Adjaye touts the outcomes as, “a brand new geometry of sound.”

This hyper-connected luxurious concrete speaker is a distinct segment product, don’t get me fallacious. However even on the lowest volumes, the MA770 is a pleasure to hearken to. Being loud isn’t indicative of unbelievable sound high quality, however this speaker carries each these traits, and the outcomes are nice.

Out the field, M&D recommend you utilize the MA770 with Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, SoundCloud, or Deezer. The reasoning is that these are all Chromecast / Wi-Fi-supported apps. Most of my week spent testing the MA770 revolved round connecting it by way of Bluetooth to a gaming rig, or utilizing an iPhone 7 Plus with iOS 11.

I’m stressing the model of iOS right here because of the truth that some bugs in each Spotify and the always-on Wi-Fi components have brought on some disconnections, quantity de-syncs, and the like. M&D tells me that is largely out of their management and can probably be fastened with app updates. However till they’re fastened, they tarnish the speaker’s expertise.

Switching over to my Google Pixel, I had no such points streaming over Wi-Fi or Chromecast with the MA770. So, I’ll additionally chalk it as much as bug fixes for iOS and the Spotify app.

So, what does music on an $1,800 concrete speaker sound like? Properly, at full-blast and up shut it feels such as you’re in a recording studio. From one other room, it feels like somebody is having method an excessive amount of enjoyable.

The brief model is that all the pieces sounds unbelievable on the MA770. Much like the sound profile on their headphones, M&D emphasizes readability, distinction between the mids and lows, then lastly, the bass.

I’m not saying the MA770 lacks functionality for cochlea-rupturing bass the youthful era (together with myself) appears to have an unhealthy obsession with. Fairly, it’s tastefully inserted the place you’d anticipate it.

From the soulful crooning of SZA’s vocals on “Drew Barrymore,” the braggadocios cadence of the Migos on “Too Hotty,” or the distinct refrain of Lorde’s star-studded “Home made Dynamite” remix, your consideration span is all the time susceptible to being drawn to the sounds being emitted.

It’s an ideal expertise. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t anticipate something much less for the value tag, in any other case there’d be issues and questions.

Who’s the MA770 actually for? For those who’re an audiophile able to spend $1,800 on a single-unit speaker, then you definitely’re in for one. However for most individuals, it will not be probably the most intelligible funding. Regardless, the MA770 is a powerful piece of audio that may rock the entire home — and possibly invite a number of noise complaints, too.

Now, for those who should expertise the M&D sound profile for much much less of an entry charge, look to the MW60 wi-fi headphones. (You would purchase three for the value of 1 MA770.) Or you can spend money on extra aggressively priced, linked audio system from Bower & Wilkins, Sonos, Sony, Google, and Amazon — there are lots of to select from.

For those who’re within the camp of being in love with this speaker, then I’d advocate it. Simply make sure you’re taking part in music at a excessive bit-rate. Additionally, don’t get the cops referred to as on you. That’s all I ask.